It doesn't look too different from the mkIV Golf, the design is pretty evolutionary... drawing on some design cues (namely the headlamps) from the Touareg.

However most rumors are saying the the 5dr Golf will not be coming to North America... we will probably only see GTI and R32 versions of the car. What we need to wait for is the official release of the Jetta V photos.

Overall I think it looks pretty good. Though there isn't much stlye wise to distinguish it from the Peugeot 306 and the newly released Opel Astra... which all have that tallish hatch look.

Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia

I just checked VWVortex and they will post official pics and press releases at 4pm CDT today, 22 July. Obviously we will need to wait a bit until VWNA releases official info regarding what we get in terms of engines and trim packages and numbers of doors.

Oddly enough, or not so odd depending on how you see it, the Jetta/Vento/Bora never did well in Europe, but sells REALLY well in NA. Americans liking for hatchbacks must have been destroyed by millions of Ford Escorts, Dodge Omnis, and Chevy Citations. Plus many still preceive the hatchback as an economy car... yet we buy SUVs which in more ways than one are nothing but swollen hatches, or just really tall station wagons with too much plastic body cladding.

Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia

Doesn't look too bad, however I just see too many Golfs to really love them.

The engine range is extensive; all units, whether petrol or diesel, are now direct injection, though not all variants will make it to the UK. Four engines will be available at launch, with more to come later, as indicated:

OK, so I'm just a dumb customer, who knows nothing about car technology, but the front of the new Golf looks like a Japanese car to me, which really puts me off.
If you change the VW logo for "Toyota", no regular customer would see it is a Volkswagen.

BTW - no Japanese car bashing intended, just the rant of a die-hard Volkswagen driver from a decade-long Volkswagen driver family.

Homer: Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!

I am not sure how y'all keep saying that the Golf V looks Japanese. I still say it looks A LOT like the Peugeot 307 and the new Astra. To be honest, there are only so many ways to style a relatively basic shape like a hatchback car. And the "cat-eye" like headlamps seem to be the current rage as well. And looking at it, it DOES look like a Volkswagen. The basic shilloutte there is still pretty much the same one used in the Golf III and IV.

However Audi appeared to be far more conservative in the redesign of the new A3... which to the untrained eye doesn't look very different from the outgoing A3... same thing can be said for the A4 as well. So at least it is nice to see VW taking a styling risk... albeit a small one.

Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia

I dunno, I dunno. I can't say I'm impressed, but I also can't say I'm totally disappointed. I was expecting better. The tail lights look Japanese to me. However, I'll have to see it in the flesh to make up my mind.

Of note, it is rumoured that the Jetta will have the same front end, which I hope is not true. Also, the GTI, which is essentially a 3 door Golf, will have a sleeker appearance.

By the way, 2.5 TDI 175bhp, mmmmm, I want one!

"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster

Hahahaha, I'm embarassed to admit, but it's the first place I saw the pics! I didn't have a chance to visit vwvortex earlier in the day. Unfortunately, these are the only pics released as of now, and no interior pics as of yet. I am more curious to see the Jetta and of course the next Passat, which I have very high hopes for. VW, it's now up to you to determine what my next car will be. Don't screw up and make me buy a Malibu!

"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster

I personally go to http://www.vwvortex.com for my VW info. They also have great forums there, and if you go to the "car lounge" people talk about any car in there, and it's really fast moving. I now keep up to date there with everything.

These pictures were shown before they were supposed to be. There was a media embargo on the new photos until July 23rd, and somebody released them before hand.

"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster